I just watched the 60-Minutes video from 9/19/10 entitled: The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care.
I have a couple of comments.
First, it stated the cancer drug, “Avastin” costs $55K (for a 30-day supply?) and only prolongs life on average of 45 days (roughly the amount of time spent taking the drug). Yet, Medicare will pay for it. IMHO, this drug is one of the most toxic biologic agents available that is used on humans. It’s side effects can be beyond horrible and can increase complications at the time of death.
The second refers to the statement that was made that the (HCRA of 2010) “reduces Medicare payments for hospice programs that studies have shown to be very cost efficient.”
IMO, this, in an of itself, is at the crux of the mounting Medicare end-of-life costs to taxpayers.
